Two Weeks and Counting

I received a call today from my consultant confirming my appointment. She must have known I was getting ready to give her a jingle to make sure that we are still on for Tuesday, Feb 10th. I was so excited. I have been doing more Sisterlock nesting, stocking up on Dr. Bronners (btw Vitamin Shoppe is having a killer sale on Dr. Bronners soaps,) a metal spray bottle that I can put in the shower to warm up while bathing to ensure that my EO's are mixed with the distilled water for spritzing and a host of other items. I even ordered new thank you notecards from designhergals.com. I was so impressed that they had locked hair as an option as well as different types of fro's.

I'm actually considering having a lock coming out party, but after spending a nice chunk of change on my install and my contemplating purchasing a motorcycle, I think that I will have a cyber celebration, or a nice dinner with g/f's instead. I was also shopping for motorcycle helmets that will accommodate my SL's. Are their any locked sisters who ride out there? Would love to hear from you all!!!

I am also boxing up all of my excess hair care products for distribution to my friends and family. I have read blogs of women happily dumping their troves into the trash, but with the amount of money I spent on that stuff, I just can't bear to just chuck it. I am terribly embarrassed looking at this big old bin. Did I really need six shampoos, eight leave in conditioners and five reconstructors/deep conditioners? I really hope no one asks me why I have several braid sprays either. There is so much room in my product drawer and under the bathroom sink.

WOW, thats a damn shame..I should go pull all my atm/credit card transactions for the last five years and see how much money I have spent at the beauty supply on one head. Between products and hair for braids, wigs and weaves, I'm sure its a small fortune. Maybe that will be my next blog..I will compare one year of being unlocked cost to another while having SL's..I have a feeling I will come out ahead :)

Lupus and Sisterlocks

I was recently diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune diesese that affects an alarming percentage of women with African ancestry. A side effect of this disease is unexplainable hair loss during lupus flares.

I am molting hair at an alarming rate. My combs are filled with hair and my edges, which were shot anyway, are almost non existent. I am concerned with losing locks once they are installed (SL b day in 21 days.)

Is there anyone in cyberland with Sisterlocks fighting lupus that can offer advice or pearls of wisdom?

Black Soap, part deux

Ok, so this is day 20 of my using black soap as my sole skin care product. I haven't had an increase in breakouts and my skin feels very smooth. As far as my enlarged pores, they are still there as are the congested pores on my nose. The millia between my mouth and chin or still there as well.

Should I give it a bit more time, or go back to my Ziana/BP regimen?

Black Soap..Hot or Not??

Being as I am attempting to go as natural as possible, I decided to go back to nature for my adult acne and hyperpigmentation. I have tried chemical peels, retin a, ziana, adoxa, aha and bha treatments, everything, nothing can A) stop the break outs, or B) lighten up the hyperpigmentation.

After reading about Black Soap while searching for all natural shampoos, I kept coming across info that said it was good for acne, hyperpigmentation and was a natural, non drying exfoliant. 

So, about a week ago, I start to use it. Seemed to get rid of the coat of war paint I had on my face.  As I was rinsing, my face actually felt squeeky clean.

Well, about 2 days ago, my skin began to break out quite a bit. I don't know if it is from stress, or from the soap actually doing what it is touted to do and cleaning all the crap from deep in my pores...My skin that isn't broken out is softer and feels smoother. I haven't used any other products such as toners or lotions as I want to give an accurate review. 

Will try it out another two weeks and give you all an update then.

Set Back in my Journey

Ok NYE on my mini casino vacation, while sitting at the pai gow table, I get a call from my consultant. Being as my appointment is on January 6 and 7, I figured it was just my confirmation call. It started out that way when I heard my consultants sweet voice asking if I still wanted my SL's done and I eagerly stated yes as I am super excited to get started. Then she dropped a bombshell.  She stated that her schedule was much too busy to hold out 2 days just for one client next week and she would be booked until the second week in Feb.

Oh, my little nappy heart sank, I looked so distraught, people at the poker table that I had stepped away from to take the call asked me if I was ok. I waved them off and choked back tears. I had made this appointment on December 1st, it was supposed to be my milestone b-day present to myself. A 10 year journey to my next milestone b-day. My appointment is 10 weeks after my b day. Then as I was making the appointment date, all I could think was, what if she calls 3 days before my appointment and reschedules again? I am getting installed 3 days before Valentine's Day, which means I'm going to have that plucked chicken look, but I guess that is the least of my worries. 

My consultant is the only certified consultant in the Sacramento Area. So, I went the trainee route, only 3 were listed, left a message for one, one stated she would call me back this am (its now noon, I love CPT, but not when it comes to my hair,) and the others number was disconnected. 

So, back to the certified consultant list I go...The closest certified consultant to me is in Oakland California. With as much hair as I have, I KNOW its gonna take at LEAST 24-30 hrs to twist me up, which means a hotel room, gas money, breakfast, lunch AND dinner in another city overnight. 

After a night of uneasiness, I contacted my consultant to see if she could refer me to anyone else. She stated well, it depended on what type of atmosphere I wanted as all the people she knew, worked out of their home. Being as I really prefer a shop environment after getting my hair braided with Kings of Comedy or Young and the Restless blaring on the TV while trying to keep children out of my pocketbook, from using me as a climbing post and endless breaks to get the baby something to eat, answer the phone, door, run to the store, pick up my husband from work etc, etc, those were a turn off. *DISCLAIMER not saying any of the SL consultants or trainees in the Sacramento area run this kind of ship in any way, just has been my experience more oft than not while getting my hair braided.*

She then sweetly asked "You don't want to wait, I am really excited to do your hair as I haven't locked a full heard of long natural hair before, only transitioning hair." to which I replied "I am really eager to get started and I really don't want to have another month go by and end up with my appointment pushed back again. I don't want to be waiting on my SL's until June!!"

She then explained, which would have actually set my mind at ease if she had stated this in the beginning, "With the holidays being during the week this year, I wasn't able to see a lot of my clients on a regular basis and got overbooked and neglected SL's mean more work in the long run."

Makes more sense, I was still butt hurt, diva's don't like being put on the back burner, but at least I have some time to cover up this resistant grey hair at my temples that I laughed at my last dye job.